Ammar Workbook

SCOLA UG ENG 101
Grammar Workbook
2014 Fall
School of Languages (ScOLa)
Undergraduate English Programmes
Contents
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 2
Worksheet 1 - Punctuation ..................................................................................................................... 3
Worksheet 2 Passive Voice ................................................................................................................... 7
Worksheet 3 Parallel Structures ......................................................................................................... 10
Worksheet 4 Consistency ................................................................................................................... 12
Worksheet 5 Prioritizing Noun Phrases.............................................................................................. 15
Worksheet 6 Sentence Variety ........................................................................................................... 17
Worksheet 7 - Most Common Problems in Sentence Structure ........................................................... 22
UG2014 Fall 1
INTRODUCTION
As university students, you are expected and/or required to write academic papers. In your papers,
you need to persuade the reader with a clear and striking presentation. If you cannot persuade your
reader (in your case, your professors) through your writing due to lack of clarity or poor style, then it
does not matter how good your ideas are.
This workbook is designed to both raise your awareness of grammatically well-formed sentence
patterns and assist you in writing clear and effective sentences. By paying meticulous attention to
the tips and doing the exercises on each worksheet, you will learn how to present your ideas through
error-free sentences. There are several exercises on each worksheet, helping you practice how to
improve your writing style. To help you practice more on each item, a few links to online grammar
exercises have been provided. If you wish, visit the websites to develop your skills in effective
sentence construction.
This workbook includes 7 worksheets as follows:
Worksheet Title
1 Punctuation
2 Passive Voice
3 Parallel Structures
4 Consistency
5 Prioritizing Noun Phrases
6 Sentence Variety
7 Most Common Problems in Sentence Structure
UG2014 Fall 2
Worksheet 1 - Punctuation
When speaking, we can pause or change the tone of our voices to indicate emphasis. When writing,
we must use punctuation to indicate these places of emphasis.
Spacing with Punctuation
Rule 1. With a typewriter or word processor, you sometimes use one space or two spaces following
punctuation. With a computer, use only one space following periods, commas, semicolons, colons,
exclamation points, question marks, and quotation marks. With a computer, the space needed after
these punctuation marks is proportioned automatically.
Periods
Rule 1. Period is the most important punctuation mark. It shows the end of the sentence. The English
language also uses capital letters at the beginning of sentences. Use a period at the end of a
complete sentence that is a statement.
Example:
The first schools in what is now British Columbia were established by the Hudson's Bay Company in
about 1853 on Vancouver Island. The present public school system originated with the Public School
Act of 1872. Education is free and compulsory for children ages 7 to 15. Schools are funded by the
provincial government and local property taxes. The province's 75 school districts are administered by
locally elected boards.
Rule 2. If the last word in the sentence ends in a period, do not follow it with another period.
Examples: I know that M.D. She is my sister-in-law.
Please shop, cook, etc. I will do the laundry.
Rule 3. Use a period after an indirect question.
Example: He asked where his suitcase was.
Commas
Rule 1. To avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or
more.
Example: My $10 million estate is to be split among my husband, daughter, son, and nephew.
(Omitting the comma after son would indicate that the son and nephew would have to split one-third
of the estate.)
Rule 2. Use a comma after phrases of more than three words that begin a sentence. If the phrase has
fewer than three words, the comma is optional.
Example: To apply for this job, you must have previous experience.
UG2014 Fall 3
Rule 3. If something or someone is sufficiently identified, the description following it is considered

nonessential and should be surrounded by commas.
Example: Freddy, who has a limp, was in an auto accident. Freddy is named, so the description is not
essential.
The boy who has a limp was in an auto accident. We do not know which boy is being referred to
without further description; therefore, no commas are used
Rule 4. When starting a sentence with a dependent clause, use a comma after it. Conversely, do not
use a comma when the sentence starts with an independent clause followed by a weak clause.
Example: If you are not sure about this, let me know now. OR Let me know now if you are not sure
about this.
Rule 5. Use a comma to separate two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction
and, or, but, for, nor.
Example: I have painted the entire house, but he is still working on sanding the doors.
Rule 6. Use a comma to separate introductory elements in a sentence from the main part of that
sentence.
Example: When using a comma, it is important to make sure that it does not cause confusion.
Rule 7.Use commas to introduce or interrupt direct quotations shorter than three lines.
Example: He actually said, I do not care.
Why, I asked, do you always forget to do it?
Quotation Marks
Rule 1. Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks, even inside single quotes.
Examples: The sign changed from Walk, to Dont Walk, to Walk again within thirty seconds.
She said, Hurry up.
She said, He said, Hurry up.
Rule 2. Use quotation marks to set off a direct quotation only.
Examples: When will you be here? he asked.
He asked when you will be there.
Capitalize:
the first letter of the first word in a sentence.
names of people, places, products, clubs, and organizations.
UG2014 Fall 4
main words in the titles of books, stories, poems, and songs.
days of the week, months of the year, and holidays.
Exercise:
A: Rewrite the sentences below using correct capitalization and/or punctuation.
1. the city of tokyo is the capital of japan

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2. jennifer and adam will travel to russia to work in a language school

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3. the jackson elementary school band will perform yankee doodle.

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4. I always find writing essays difficult, I usually leave them to the last minute
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5.the portion included gobstoppers chewing gum bran flakes and coleslaw
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6. He hated his neighbors so he never invited them round
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7. given the appealing weather Michael was lucky to survive the storm
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8. Bill nye said " Climate change is happening, humans are causing it, and I think this is perhaps the
most serious environmental issue facing us.
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9. Because most of us can go back to our daily lives unaffected images of drastic environmental
changes cannot provoke huge behavior changes.
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10. several factors such as droughts or floods pollution and the increase in human demand and
overuse of water may result in water shortages,
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UG2014 Fall 5
B: Insert the necessary punctuation marks and capitalize words where necessary. Some
misspellings may also have to be corrected.
the continuing care retirement community CCRC has become one alternative to the impending
increase in our elderly population according to estella espinoza professor of gerontology at the
university of connecticut. nursing homes are no longer the answer to this social need she said their
simply to costly for todays senior-citizens she added.
CCRC's normally require a tremendous down payment to buy into a living unit then they
require a considerable monthly "maintenance fee." this large initial investment together with the
continuing high price of socalled maintenance means that many americans will be excluded from the
CCRC of their choice. "its a shame that getting old has to be so expensive" said espinoza there are
three things involved here affordability convenience and human dignity
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Sources:
http://www.englishforeveryone.org/PDFs/Commas.pdf
http://www.k12reader.com/punctuation/Capitalization.pdf
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_06.htm
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/punct4_quiz.htm
More practice:
https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/GramPunct.html
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_55.htm
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/3/16/14
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/punct3_quiz.htm
http://www.uefap.com/writing/exercise/punc/puncex8.htm
UG2014 Fall 6
Worksheet 2 Passive Voice
In academic writing, passive voice is often preferred when writers do not intend focus on the doer of
the action, but on the action itself (in particular, on the results of the action). However, some
academic writers feel that the repeated use of passive voice can affect clarity as the agents (doers)
are not clear. Undoubtedly, an essay with repeated use of the passive may seem tedious to read as it
is dominated by things and concepts instead of people. It is thus recommended that you avoid using
passive sentences too much.
You might use passive voice in the following cases:
1. The doer is unknown:
The cave paintings of Lascaux were made in the Upper Old Stone Age. [We don't know who
made them.]
2. The doer is irrelevant:
An experimental solar power plant will be built in the Australian desert. [We are not
interested in who is building it.]
3. You are talking about a general truth:
Rules are made to be broken. [By whomever, whenever.]
4. You want to emphasize the person or thing acted on. For example, it may be your main
topic:
Insulin was first discovered in 1921 by researchers at the University of Toronto. It is still the
only treatment available for diabetes.
When should I avoid passive voice?
Passive sentences can get you into trouble in academic writing because they can be vague
about who is responsible for the action:
Example: Both Othello and Iago desire Desdemona. She is courted. [Who courts Desdemona?
Othello? Iago? Both of them?]
Academic writing often focuses on differences between the ideas of different researchers, or
between your own ideas and those of the researchers you are discussing. Too many passive
sentences can create confusion:
Example: Research has been done to discredit this theory. [Who did the research? You? Your
professor? Another author?]
UG2014 Fall 7
Some students use passive sentences to hide holes in their research:
Example: The telephone was invented in the nineteenth century. [I couldn't find out who invented
the telephone!]
Finally, passive sentences often sound wordy and indirect. They can make the reader work
unnecessarily hard. In addition, since they are usually longer than active sentences, passive
sentences take up precious room in your paper:
Example: Since the car was being driven by Michael at the time of the accident, the damages should
be paid for by him.
Form of Passive
finite form of to be + Past Participle
Active voice Passive voice

Simple present Many older citizens use the The library is used by many
library. older citizens.
Simple past Many children used the library The library was used by many
last summer. children last summer
Present continues Workmen are painting the third The third floor is being painted.
floor.
Past continues Last week, they were painting Last week, the childrens room
the childrens room. was being used.
Future The library will offer many new Many new programs will be
programs next year. offered next year.
Present perfect The director has ordered a lot A lot of new equipment has
of new equipment. been ordered.
Past perfect Workmen had already installed The new computer had already
the new computer when I was been installed when I was there
there last week. last week.
Future perfect The library will have started the The childrens story hour will
childrens story hour by the end have been started by the end
of next month. of next month.
Present infinitive I have to renew my library card. My library card has to be
renewed.
UG2014 Fall 8
Exercise:
Change the verbs from the active voice to passive voice where necessary.
In this study, the researcher aimed to explore the perceptions of employees working in a private
corporation about positive attitudes of supervisors. The researcher interviewed 15 employees
working in a factory in ekmeky and coded their speech. He found three main themes and labeled
them as follows: control, personality and superiority. The researcher chose five employees from
three different departments (Human Resources, Quality Control and Sales). Results showed that
employees from Human Resources department expressed control as the best quality of a supervisor.
On the other hand, employees from the Quality Control and Sales departments perceived personality
and superiority as the qualities of a positive supervisor.
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Sources:
Maurer, J. (2006). Focus on grammar: An integrated skills approach. White Plains, NY: Pearson
Education.
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/style-and-editing/passive-voice
More practice:
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/passiv.htm
http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/esl-passive-voice-exercise2.html
UG2014 Fall 9
Worksheet 3 Parallel Structures
Parallel structure means using the same sentence elements with the same function. This can happen
at the word, phrase, and clause level. Consider the following rules when checking for parallel
structure in your writing:
1. Use parallel structure when you join sentence elements by coordinating conjunctions
Word:
Incorrect: Albert likes to swim, (to) jog, and * hiking.
Correct: Albert likes to swim, (to) jog, and (to) hike. OR Albert likes swimming, jogging, and hiking.
Incorrect: He speaks fluently, rhetorically, and in a coherent way.
Correct: He speaks intelligibly, meaningfully, and coherently.
Phrase:
Incorrect: I am allergic to the cats hair and how it smells.
Correct: I am allergic to the cats hair and its smell.
Clause:
Incorrect: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too
much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.
Correct: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too
much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game.
2. Use parallel structure when you join elements in the form of a list or a series:
Incorrect: Dogs are great pets for the following reasons: they are loyal, they are loving and because
of their obedience.
Correct: Dogs are great pets for the following reasons: they are loyal, they are loving, and they are
obedient.
3. Use parallel structure when you compare or contrast elements (A is better than B X is less
than Y):
Incorrect: James enjoys reading more than to write.
Correct: James enjoys reading more than writing.
Exercise:
All sentences below are out of balance since they lack parallel structure. In the space provided,
rewrite each sentence, giving it parallel structure.
1. The following activities can be done at the shopping center: buying groceries, eating lunch or you
should pay your bill.
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2. The dictionary can be used to find these: word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings,
and looking up irregular verbs.
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3. You will either listen to your father, or negative results will occur.
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UG2014 Fall 10
4. Traditional food is healthier than eating fast food.

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5. Declining trees both have a higher probability of branch failures and of dying prematurely.
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6. The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that there would
be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that questions would be asked by prospective
buyers.
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7. George delivered his speech with confidence and enthusiastically.

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8. Being compassionate and because she knows a lot about animals, Jessica will make a good
veterinarian.
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9. The teacher expected that his students would attend the class regularly, that they would actively
participate in class discussions, and that questions would be asked by them.
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10. The Budget Information System is a query system, the database is small, and we need to
recognize the fact that the response time is unacceptably long.
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Sources:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/623/01/
http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples/parallel-structure-examples.html
More practice:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/parallelism_quiz.htm
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073511994/student_view0/brush_up/part_i-
grammar2/grammar_exercise_09.html
UG2014 Fall 11
Worksheet 4 Consistency
Verb tense usage is a common mistake in the writing of students. Switching the tense throughout
ones essay is a common error, sometimes using a present form while using a past form at other
points. It is important to be consistent in the use of verb tenses throughout your writing projects.
Generally speaking, avoid sudden, unnecessary shifts in the tenses within the same paragraph.
APA formatting calls for the use of specific verb tenses for paraphrasing. In general, use past tense to
refer to the research results, as the research took place at a specific, definite time in the past (e.g.,
Ellis (2002) showed that anxiety decreased significantly.; Smith (2012) found that. ). However, you
may refer to findings that still hold true in the present tense (e.g., Smith (2011) found that the
sustainable development policies are ineffective.). Use the present perfect tense to express a past
action that did not occur at a specific, definite time (e.g., Since that time, several researchers have
used this method.); use present tense to discuss implications of the results and to present
conclusions (e.g., The results of the study indicate that ).
Another common mistake in verb usage is subject-verb agreement. To ensure smoothness and
clarity in your writing, you must use singular verbs with singular subjects, and plural verbs with plural
subjects.
Examples:
Berk and his classmates are in the library.
The punch or/nor the stapler is in the drawer.
Altan or his friends work out at the gym every day. / His friends or Altan works out at the gym every
day.
He does not attend the class regularly. / They do not attend the class regularly.
One of them/the books is here.
The people who watch that movie are few.
The group leader, as well as other members, is happy.
The paragraph, including all supporting ideas, is ambiguous.
The man with all the cats walks down my street.
Everybody knows him.
The news is on at five.
Those trousers/glasses/scissors are expensive.
There are many questions. / There is a question.
The committee formulates the policies.
The third common mistake is in use of pronouns. Students sometimes use unclear pronoun
references. Make sure that all pronouns (e.g., it, they, them, this, that, these, those, and which)in
your essay clearly refer to definite referents (nouns).
Examples:
Unclear: Einstein was a brilliant mathematician. This is how he was able to explain the
universe.
UG2014 Fall 12
Clear: Einstein, who was a brilliant mathematician, used his ability with numbers to explain
the universe.
Unclear: Because Senator Martin is less interested in the environment than in economic
development, he sometimes neglects it.
Clear: Because of his interest in economic development, Senator Martin sometimes neglects
the environment.
Exercise:
A: Correct the mistakes in the following sentences.
1. Thus, the capitalists, who owned businesses and industry, are opposed by the working class, which
provides the labor needed to make the products and provides the services offered by the businesses
and industries.
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2. Each school has a curriculum, a program that indicated what material teachers will cover. Each
teacher is expected to follow the curriculum and facilitate the learning process for students.
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3. Each of the students are responsible for writing his or her essay.
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4. My trousers was torn. / A pair of shoes are in the closet.

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5. The teacher, accompanied by her students, are travelling to the ancient city.
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6. When she was forty, Pearl Bucks novel The Good Earth won the Pulitzer Prize.
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7. Buck received much critical praise and earned over $7 million, but she was very modest about it.
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8. Bill bought a Norwegian canoe because he had heard that they make the best canoes.
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9. Katie was an only child, and it was hard.

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UG2014 Fall 13
B: Read the following passage carefully. Detect and then correct the inconsistencies. NB. Pay
careful attention to verbe tenses and pronouns.
Consumer goods were mimetically represented in the 1900 catalogue. Illustrations have been simply
faithful reproductions of what you will get for his money. If you wanted some gentlemens
suspenders, Sears Roebuck shows you what you get and also have thrown in a bit of advice: While
we quote cheap suspenders, we do not warrant or recommend they. The better qualities are the
cheapest in the end. Rubber boots to toys, open lavatories to corsets, the emphasis was upon the
integrity of the product, rather than its aura or its effect upon the consumer. Contemporary mail
order catalogues might still stress value for money and consumer choice, but there is a fundamental
difference in emphasis: the commodity acquired, in late consumer capitalism, an aura beyond just its
function. The commodity now acts on the consumer, endowed him/her with perceived qualities
which can be displayed in widening public contexts; consumption became a riskier business. It is the
difference between buying an object mainly for its function, and acquiring an item for its style. Motor
cars or jeans, for instance, were produced and consumed as more than functional means of mobility
or clothing.
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Sources:
http://www.methodist.edu/english/pr_answers.pdf
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~sford/examples/esl100inclass_verb_tense.pdf
More practice:
http://www.towson.edu/ows/modulepro.htm
http://www.chompchomp.com/hotpotatoes/proref05.htm
http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/english/langan/sentence_skills/exercises/ch10/ie11.htm
UG2014 Fall 14
Worksheet 5 Prioritizing Noun Phrases
A frequent problem among students is inappropriate tone. Much student work and many essays
have an informal, chatty tone which seems more suitable for a text message, a blog, or a casual chat
with a friend. This style might suit a magazine article, but is not appreciated in situations where
formal writing is expected, whether it is academic, business or technical.
One effective habit that can make writing both more formal and clearer is to start sentences with a
strong noun phrase. This gets directly to the point and comes across as much more serious.
Examples: Note how the most important idea is highlighted when it is pushed to the front of the
sentence.
Original: Many governments are seriously concerned about climate change and the effects it will
have on the economy.
New version: The effects of climate change on the economy are a serious concern of many
governments.
Original: Humans should stop cutting down forests because this causes soil to become eroded.
New version: Deforestation causes soil erosion.
Note: If you change the verb of a sentence into a noun, you will need to replace it with a
new, suitable verb.
Example: People are concerned that climate change cannot be stopped.
New version: The possibility that climate change cannot be stopped causes concern.
Exercise:
Reorganize the following sentences so that the most important idea/s are turned to noun phrases
and brought to the front of the sentence. Which ideas should go first? Which others can be
expressed as a noun phenomenon?
1. It can be seen that when there are not enough natural resources, there is a risk of people
going to war to get them.
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2. Being incapable of controlling machines can severely destroy human future.
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UG2014 Fall 15
3. In the future we may live in a world where machines self-replicate and humans become
unnecessary.
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4. Most people have been debating if it is important to pay attention to Paris Hiltons fashion
tips.
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5. We are risking protesters overwhelming us if we start shooting at them.
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6. If you can understand quantum physics this will result in you being more suitable for the job.
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More Practice:
http://webapp.ln.edu.hk/ceal/elss/sites/default/files/exercise/cate/writing/Activity8%20Writing%20
with%20Complex%20Noun%20Phrases%201/index.htm
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/phrases.htm
UG2014 Fall 16
Worksheet 6 Sentence Variety
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
In academic writing, you are expected to write complete and grammatically well-formed sentences.
It is also important to be able to use a variety of sentences structures with correct punctuation.
Sentences are made up of clauses. They are groups of words which express a single idea. There are
two types of clauses: independent clauses and dependent clauses. An independent clause can be a
complete sentence, by itself (1) while a dependent clause, though having a subject and verb, is not a
complete thought and needs an independent clause to complete its meaning (2).
(1) Many of our problems in the world can be attributed to overpopulation.
We will have to become more sustainable in the way we run our work and home lives.
(2) How the variability of the sun affects the earth's climate (noun clause)
Communities which live on subsistence in wealthy countries (adjective/relative clause)
Despite the heat waves across the country (adverbial clause)
With different combinations of these two types of clauses, you can make different sentence types.
There are four types of sentences: simple (3), compound (4), complex (5), and compound-complex
(6).
(3) Simple sentences consist of only one independent clause, and they require one punctuation mark
at the end (a full stop)
e.g., Why is it crucial for business sectors to act ethically?
Overconsumption results in scarcity of resources.
(4) Compound sentence:
independent clause , coordinating conjunction independent clause .
Coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so/ simply FANBOYS).
e.g., The United States government controls large areas of national forest, but (it) sets the
policy of the timber.
The serious problem of deforestation in tropical regions should be tackled with

immediately, for it has caused a number of difficulties for the inhabitants.
(5) complex sentence
dependent clause , independent clause . OR independent clause dependent clause.
UG2014 Fall 17
e.g., While you people are overconsuming, the rest of the world sinks more and more deeply into
chronic disaster. (Aldous Huxley)
You will arouse great resentment if your conduct is determined solely by considerations of
profit. (Confucius)
(6) compound-complex
dependent clause , independent clause , coordinating conjunction independent clause .
e.g., If nothing is done about climate change, there will be severe weather condition, and food
production will be affected.
OR
independent clause , coordinating conjunction independent clause dependent clause .
e.g., There will be severe weather condition, and food production will be affected if nothing is done
about climate change.
Exercise:
A: Complete each sentence with one of the clauses below, adding a connector, if needed, and
appropriate punctuation.
As material indices of wealth rose does enable more efficient manipulation of the
emotions of the consumer
they are changing their consumption patterns After the collapse of socialism
but at the same time we must reduce the were involved from all 4 middle schools and the
amount of energy that we consume in producing high school
those goods
1. The project was made more sustainable by teachers .
2. As many people are becoming increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of

consumerism
... .
3. .. environmental indices fell.
4. The expenditure of vast sums on psychological studies of consumer behavior
..
5. We must always find ways of producing more goods

6. . capitalism remained without a

rival.
UG2014 Fall 18
B: Complete each sentence using your own ideas.
1. If we do not do anything to fight against climate change.................. .
2. Coastal cities will disappear under water ........................................
3. Children will be taught to be materialistic, and they will become robotic .
4. . overconsumption may lead to scarcity of

resources.
Sources:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/55727205/Complex-and-Compound-Complex-Sentences---
PowerPoint
http://sentence.yourdictionary.com
http://www.reference.com/example-sentences
More practice:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/sentence_types_quiz.htm
http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0073123587/student_view0/chapter6/compound_or_comple
x_sentence_.html
SENTENCE BEGINNINGS
If you begin all sentences in a paragraph with a subject followed by a verb, your writing becomes
monotonous. To improve your style in academic writing, consider beginning sentences in different
ways:
With a prepositional phrase: In 30 years, electricity demand will exceed supply by 30 percent.
With an adverb: Surprisingly, governments do not place serious restrictions on the way corporations
recruit workforces in the Third World.
With a transitional connective (conjunctive adverb) such as thus, however, or furthermore: Current
environmental policies make sure that economic and environmental performance go hand in hand.
Therefore, long-term sustained economic growth can be achieved in a way that trade-offs between
prosperity and protecting environment can be addressed.
With a dependent clause: As any responsible person knows, ethical practices will improve the quality
of life for people, especially for the poor.
With a participial phrase: Paying more attention to the happiness of their employees, some
companies have tried to cultivate and advance incentives such as great work-life balance.
UG2014 Fall 19
With a gerund as subject: Saving our planet should be our top priority.
With a noun phrase *(very common in academic writing to highlight the subject of the sentence):
The quality of early education has a vital impact on peoples later career prospects.
Consider the following paragraph including sentences which all sound the same. Notice that
such sentence types and order of information do not attract the reader(s).
I want to be a business man when I grow up. I want to attend a course at a local business school so
that I can get some experience. I also want to be an apprentice sales person. I love persuading people
to invest in business projects, and I want to someday own my own company.
As you may have noticed 3 out of 4 sentences begin with the word I. To avoid repeating
yourself with the same structure, it is essential to use variety of sentence openings. To avoid
this problem you can either do some combining or be conscious of the beginning of your
sentences so that you are not always starting them in the same way. Here is the same
paragraph, revised with sentence variations:
I love business so much that when I grow up, I hope to be a businessman. In fact, I am planning to
attend a course at a local business school, and, to gain experience, I would also like to be an
apprentice sales person. Someday, I hope to own my company.
Exercise1:
Revise the following passage to achieve better sentence variety by changing the types of
sentences, order of information, length of sentences, and beginnings of sentences. Compare your
revisions with those of others in your class. There is no single correct way of making these changes.
MY SCHOOL NIGHTMARE
My first day of school in America was also my worst nightmare. I woke up early in the morning. My
uncle took me to school. I sat in the classroom during the first period and listened. I could not
understand what the teacher was talking about. Fifty minutes passed. I saw others walk out of the
classroom. I did not know what they were doing. I walked out with them. I still did not realize that
the school system in America was different from that in China. Students in China do not change
classrooms every period. The teachers do. Students in America rather than teachers change
classrooms. So I went back to the same classroom again. I stayed in that room until noon. Lunch hour
was coming. In China, everybody goes home for lunch. I thought people did the same thing here. I
left for home. A school security man stopped me outside the school. He talked to me. I did not know
what he was saying. I was frustrated and scared. I wanted to cry. Some of my schoolmates looked at
me as if I were an alien. My face turned red. My heart was crying. I hid my tears. A Chinese girl came
up and talked to me in Chinese. She told me we had to stay in school until the last period. I did not
know she would become my best friend. I did know my worst nightmare had ended.
1
(Adapted from: Brandon,K.,& Brandon,L. (Eds.). (2011). Paragraphs and Essays with Integrated Readings.
Boston, MA, Wadsworth.)
UG2014 Fall 20
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More practice:
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/writerschoice/rws/hslessons/grade9/lesson9/exercises.shtml
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/nova/nova9.htm
UG2014 Fall 21
Worksheet 7 - Most Common Problems in Sentence Structure

Reminder: A sentence is a complete thought and, at least, has a subject and verb. There are four
types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentence.
A fragment is a group of words that does not imply a complete thought, and is punctuated like a
sentence. Fragments can be phrases (1), dependent clauses (with subordinating and relative
clauses) (2), or any incomplete word group (3).
(1)In capitalism. There are numerous consumerist models of economic growth that stimulate
overconsumption. Correct: ___________________________________________________
(2A) Despite the progress we are making. We have to face the stark truth that our planet faces a
food and farming crisis. Correct: ___________________________________________________
(2B) which try to brainwash children with subliminal advertisement.
Correct: ___________________________________________________
(3) Promoting the idea of massive consumption.
Correct: ___________________________________________________
A run-on occurs when two sentences join together without the appropriate punctuation and/or
connective words. A run-on may be corrected with putting a period between two sentences (4),
connecting two parts with a comma followed by a proper coordinating conjunction (5), or adding a
subordinating conjunction to make a complex sentence (6).
We went to the beach it was a lot of fun. (run-on sentence)
(4) ________________________________________________________________________
(5) _________________________________________________________________________
The teacher was angry I did not finish my homework.
(6) ________________________________________________________________________
A choppy sentence is a very short sentence. Although short sentences can be effective, using them
too much in academic writing is considered very poor style.
Incorrect: Wind is an enduring source of power. Water is also an unlimited energy source. Dams
produce hydraulic power. They have existed for a long time. Windmills are relatively new.
Correct: Both wind and water are enduring sources of power. Dams have produced hydraulic power
for a long time, but windmills are relatively new.
A sprawl sentence is a sentence with too many equally weighted phrases and clauses, using
unnecessary/ inappropriate conjunctions. A loose sentence usually contains plenty of poorly-ordered
phrases and clauses.
UG2014 Fall 22
Incorrect: In the event that we get the contract, we must be ready by June 1 with the necessary
personnel and equipment to get the job done, so with this end in mind a staff meeting, which all
group managers are expected to attend, is scheduled for February 12.
Correct: An all-staff meeting including all group managers is scheduled for February 12. During this
meeting we should discuss the issue of personnel and equipment preparation and schedule a plan for
completing the contract by June 1st, if the contract is received.
Exercise:
A: Each item below contains a sentence fragment. Fix it in the space provided.
1. Adaptation measures can help us to minimize the adverse effects of climate change in the future .
For example, developing drought-tolerant crops, using scarce water resources more efficiently.
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2. Some people buy into upgrading their cell phones. Although, they may know that they do not
necessarily need the new version.
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3. Robert has met his long-lost daughter. Who had been searching for him over twenty years.
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4. Because the cost of sustainable practices for organic agriculture.
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B: Rewrite these run-on sentences using a period (.) or a conjunction (and / but / so / if).
1. After finishing secondary school, he entered the Federal Polytechnic Academy in Switzerland, he
did not like the teaching methods here.
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2. Learning a new language is similar to learning to swim it takes a lot of practice.
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3. This computer doesnt make sense to me, it came without a manual.
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UG2014 Fall 23
4. The airport is about to shut down because of the snow and the plane doesn't land soon it will have
to go on to Boston.
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C: Connect the following choppy sentences by linking them together appropriately.
1. Our results were inconsistent. The program obviously contains an error. A revision of the program
is required.
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2. The Romans claimed descent from Troy. They claimed, in particular, the Trojan hero Aeneas.. He is
a hero in Homer.. Homers epics do not record his death. He is like many other mythological heroes
of this age. A later Greek author composed a saga about Aeneas. After the Trojan War, he wandered
around the Mediterranean. He went from Troy to a new homeland in Latium.
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3. We hold these truths to be self-evident. All men are created equal. They are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights. Among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
We need to secure these rights. Thats why Governments are instituted among Men. They derive
their just powers from the consent of the governed.
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D: Rewrite theses sprawl sentences by rearranging the sentence structures, changing the order of
information, using appropriate conjunctions, and using correct punctuation. Your revision should
imply complete thoughts. Compare your revisions with those of others in your class. There is no
single correct way of making these changes.
1. The lack of rainfall has caused a severe water shortage, so people have to conserve water every
day, and they also have to think of new ways to reuse water, but the situation is improving.
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2. Although the blue whale has been protected for over 30 years and its numbers are increasing,
especially in the North Pacific, where whale hunting has been banned, it is still at risk of extinction as
its habitat is being polluted by waste from oil tankers and its main food, the plankton, is being killed
off by harmful rays from the sun, which can penetrate the earth's atmosphere because there is a
huge hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica.
UG2014 Fall 24
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Sources:
http://www.ciwf.org.uk/what_we_do/factory_farming/default.aspx?gclid=COuOgvKMw7wCFeKWtA
odoDMANw
http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/writing/forms/TheMostCommonSentenceStructureProblems
http://www.usu.edu/markdamen/writingguide/exercises/05choppy.pdf
http://www.grammar-worksheets.com
More practice:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/run-ons_add1.htm
http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/choppysentences.pdf
http://dianahacker.com/bedhandbook6e/subpages/pdf/exmaster14-1.pdf
UG2014 Fall 25

Ammar Workbook

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SCOLA UG ENG 101

This workbook includes 7 worksheets as follows:

Spacing with Punctuation

Examples: I know that M.D. She is my sister-in-law.

Please shop, cook, etc. I will do the laundry.

Rule 3. Use a period after an indirect question.

Example: He asked where his suitcase was.

Rule 3. If something or someone is sufficiently identified, the description following it is considered

Example: He actually said, I do not care.

Why, I asked, do you always forget to do it?

She said, Hurry up.

She said, He said, Hurry up.

Rule 2. Use quotation marks to set off a direct quotation only.

Examples: When will you be here? he asked.

He asked when you will be there.

the first letter of the first word in a sentence.

names of people, places, products, clubs, and organizations.

main words in the titles of books, stories, poems, and songs.

days of the week, months of the year, and holidays.

A: Rewrite the sentences below using correct capitalization and/or punctuation.

1. the city of tokyo is the capital of japan

2. jennifer and adam will travel to russia to work in a language school

3. the jackson elementary school band will perform yankee doodle.

6. He hated his neighbors so he never invited them round

Worksheet 2 Passive Voice

You might use passive voice in the following cases:

1. The doer is unknown:

2. The doer is irrelevant:

3. You are talking about a general truth:

Rules are made to be broken. [By whomever, whenever.]

When should I avoid passive voice?

Some students use passive sentences to hide holes in their research:

Active voice Passive voice

Worksheet 3 Parallel Structures

4. Traditional food is healthier than eating fast food.

7. George delivered his speech with confidence and enthusiastically.

4. My trousers was torn. / A pair of shoes are in the closet.

9. Katie was an only child, and it was hard.

Worksheet 5 Prioritizing Noun Phrases

New version: Deforestation causes soil erosion.

Example: People are concerned that climate change cannot be stopped.

2. Being incapable of controlling machines can severely destroy human future.

5. We are risking protesters overwhelming us if we start shooting at them.

Worksheet 6 Sentence Variety

(1) Many of our problems in the world can be attributed to overpopulation.

Communities which live on subsistence in wealthy countries (adjective/relative clause)

Despite the heat waves across the country (adverbial clause)

e.g., Why is it crucial for business sectors to act ethically?

Overconsumption results in scarcity of resources.

(4) Compound sentence:

independent clause , coordinating conjunction independent clause .

The serious problem of deforestation in tropical regions should be tackled with

(5) complex sentence

dependent clause , independent clause . OR independent clause dependent clause.

dependent clause , independent clause , coordinating conjunction independent clause .

independent clause , coordinating conjunction independent clause dependent clause .

1. The project was made more sustainable by teachers .

2. As many people are becoming increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of

3. .. environmental indices fell.

4. The expenditure of vast sums on psychological studies of consumer behavior

5. We must always find ways of producing more goods

6. . capitalism remained without a